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Four insurgents armed with rifles and grenades attacked a luxury hotel in the southwestern coastal town of Gwadar on Saturday, triggering an intense, hours-long shootout in which one hotel guard and all the attackers were killed, officials said.
In a statement, the military said troops quickly responded to the attack on the Pearl Continental hotel and that all the guests were safely evacuated. The hotel guard was killed as the assailants opened fire with small arms.
A Baloch separatist group, the Baloch Liberation Army, claimed responsibility, saying its four fighters were involved.
In a statement, the group released pictures of the attackers, who authorities say were killed in the ensuing gun battle.
"All four of the terrorists have been killed," said a senior security official.
A second security official said troops had taken control of the area after killing the assailants.
They said a search was still under way in the area. The hotel is located near the port at Gwadar, which was built by Pakistan with China's help in recent years. Gwadar lies about 700 kilometers southwest of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.
Earlier, Mohammad Aslam, the on-duty officer in Gwadar, said ambulances and rescue officers lined up at a road leading to the hotel .
"There were no Chinese or Pakistani guests in the hotel," he said, adding that only staff were present in the building, adding that at least three are believed to be injured.
Additional police force, anti-terrorism force and army arrived at the hotel to handle the situation, Gwadar Station House Officer (SHO) Aslam Bangulzai said.
A heavy gunbattle between the militants and the navy and army soldiers took place, Bangulzai added.
The hotel, frequented by business as well as leisure travellers, is located on the Koh-e-Batil hill, south of West Bay on Fish Harbour road in Gwadar.
All foreign and local guests staying at the hotel were safely evacuated, Balochistan Information Minister Zahoor Buledi confirmed. China is investing heavily in Balochistan under the $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
"At around 4:50pm (local time) we got reports that there are two to there armed men in PC Hotel," Bangulzai said.
"Two to three gunmen had first fired at and then entered the hotel," Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohsin Hassan Butt said, adding that "95 per cent of the hotel has been evacuated". The provincial police chief further said that "the attackers may have come in a boat to launch the attack". Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani condemned "the terrorists attack" on the hotel, and instructed the authorities to "ensure the safety of all inside the hotel".
He called for a "well planned and strong action against the terrorists".
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